Blog Tour – Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald Review – #randomthingstours @OrendaBooks

Welcome to Dark Reads stop on the Random Things Blog Tour for Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald. Thank you to Anne and Orenda Books for including me in the tour along side so many awesome Bloggers!

Don’t forget to check out the other blogger’s reviews on the Tour and my blog partner for the day Zoe @ Zooloo’s Book Diary

About The Book

Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line.

Imprisoned for murdering his wife, Liam Macdowall has published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that has made him an unlikely hero – a poster boy for Men’s Rights Activists.

Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice … with devastating consequences.

Dark Reads Review

Wow, what a rollercoaster of a story!

Firstly I just want to acknowledge what a fantastic character Mary Shields is! Menopausal and brilliantly blunt. I have a very dry sense of humor so this book had me literally laughing out loud at times. I loved the honesty of the character, she thinks and says the kinds of things that we all probably think to ourselves from time to time about people or situations, its really good to see it on paper through a totally believable protagonist.

Don’t be under any illusions, Worst Case Scenario is a gritty, Psychological Crime Thriller with just enough dark humor to take the edge off.

Mary is at a poignant time in her life and career. She is going through the menopause and has decided she is going to resign from her job as a probation officer for some of the most undesirable individuals imaginable; Pedophiles, Rapists and Murderers.

I really felt for Mary throughout this book, you real insight into the fact that she has worked for years in a red tape environment and by the time she decides to resign and knows she only has one last case to work, she has developed a wholly ‘F*ck it’ attitude. Brilliant!

There is just this one last case before she leaves…It can’t be that bad…..Can it?!

The Plot follows Mary as she is assigned her last case; Liam Macdowell, who was imprisoned for the murder of his wife. On his release from prison he releases his book, he is catapulted to fame among a men’s activist group.

Mary just seems to make one bad decision that leads to another, and another until she is in a catastrophic snowball effect that had me wishing she would just think before acting on her impulses. There were so many times I was actually cringing at the giant mess Mary had managed to herself into, unwittingly implicating herself and those around her.

I think this book also highlights the power of social media in todays world and how quickly things can unravel, once it’s out there, it’s out there.

This book had me hooked literally from the first line, I mean, what a first line!

“Every time Mary tried to relax in a bath, a paedophile ruined it.”

I didn’t know what to expect from one page to the next. I really hope we get to hear more from Mary in the future, the ending was open enough for us to meet her again (fingers crossed!)

Worst Case Scenario was my first Helen Fitzgerald read, I loved the way this book was written and would pick up another of her books in a heartbeat.

Highly recommended from me – Go get a copy!

Worst Case Scenario was published on the 16th May 2019, get your copy from Orenda Books here

About The Author

Helen FitzGerald is the bestselling author of ten adult and young adult thrillers, including The Donor (2011) and The Cry (2013), which was long-listed for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, and is now a major drama for BBC1. Helen worked as a criminal justice social worker for over fifteen years. She grew up in Victoria, Australia. She now lives in Glasgow with her husband.

You can follow Helen on her Website or Twitter

About The Publisher

Orenda Books is a small independent publishing company specialising in literary fiction with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and approximately half the list in translation.

They’ve been twice shortlisted for the Nick Robinson Best Newcomer Award at the IPG awards, and publisher and owner Karen Sullivan was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2016. In 2018, they were awarded a prestigious Creative Europe grant for their translated books programme. Three authors, including Agnes Ravatn, Matt Wesolowski and Amanda Jennings have been WHSmith Fresh Talent picks, and Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, won an English PEN Translation Award, and adapted for BBC Radio Four ’s Book at Bedtime. Six titles have been short- or long-listed for the CWA Daggers.

Launched in 2014 with a mission to bring more international literature to the UK market,
Orenda Books publishes a host of debuts, many of which have gone on to sell millions worldwide, and looks for fresh, exciting new voices that push the genre in new directions. Bestselling authors include Ragnar Jonasson, Antti Tuomainen, Gunnar Staalesen, Michael J. Malone, Kjell Ola Dahl, Louise Beech, Johana Gustawsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sarah Stovell.

Check out Orenda Books on their Website and Twitter

All opinions expressed in my reviews are my own and I do not get paid to give them.